End bracing for box-cars.



PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905. G. L. HBNRION (in J. McROBBIE. END BRAOING POE BOX CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21,1905

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GEORGE L. I-IENRION, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, AND JOHN MOROBBIE, OF

DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN OAR & FOUNDRY GOM- PANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A OORPORATIONOF NE-IV JERSEY.

END BRACING FOR BQX-"CARSu Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed June 21, 1905. Serial No. 266,292.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE L. HENRION, residing at Memphis, Tennessee, and JOHN MoRoenrnresiding at Detroit, Michigan, citizens of the United States, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in End Bracings for Box-Oars, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in

which Figure l is an end view of a car constructed in accordance with our invention, partly in elevation and partly in section and illustrat ing the interior thereof. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the end sill, a portion of the end post, and one of the Z-shaped connectors for the post end sill. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of end post and a portion of one of the horizontal braces. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modified form of the end-post bracing and a modified form of horizontal brace. Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a modified form of end post, the con necting portions being shown as integral therewith; and Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view through the form of end-post brace shown in Fig. 6, with a modified form of Z-shaped conhector.

This invention relates to the general class of freight-cars, generally designated box-cars; and one of the objects of the invention is to provide means whereby the ends of such cars are materially stiffened and rendered less liable to injury from collision or longitudinal shifting of the load. It is not uncommon to carry dressed lumber in box-cars to protect it from deterioration from contact with the elements, and experience has demonstrated that sudden jars or shocks, due to collisions or sudden stopping of the car, is liable to cause the lumber to shift, and this shifting frequently results in bulging out or breaking the ends of the car. This objection is also true where other shiftable loads are carried. We contemplate so bracing the ends of the car that the liability of the shifting loads imparting injury to the car will be minimized, if not wholly avoided, and we accomplish the desired purpose by stiffening the ends and increasing the stiffness and strength of the entire carbody.

In constructing a car in accordance with our invention certain iron or structural steel is used in the form of vertical, horizontal, and longitudinal members which are applied to the ordinary end construction of box-cars, which application of said members permits the reduction in size of certain wooden members and the omission of certain other members, so that the weight of the car is not in creased, while the stiffness of the ends and intermediate portions of the body is augmented.

In the form illustrated in the drawings the vertical stiffening members are shown as consisting of suitable pieces of strap or bar iron or other suitable structural shapes placed exteriorly to and in line with the intermediate end posts, which vertical stiffening members extend from the bottoms of the end sills to the base of the molding and are connected to the end sills, the body of the car, and the horizontal stilfening members, as will be hereinafter described. The horizontal stifiening members are illustrated as comprising pieces of strap or bar iron or other suitable structural shapes placed interior to and in line with the two belt-rails or girths of the ordinary boxcar and are connected to the vertical stiflening members, the outside corner-plates, and the body of the car, as hereinafterdescribed. The longitudinal stiffening members used in this construction consist of pieces of strap or bar iron or other suitable structural shapes placed interior. to, underneath, and in line with the ridge-pole between the end plate and first carline and fastened to said ridge-pole, plate, and carline, as hereinafter described.

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 3, 1 represents the vertical stifi eners, 2 the horizontal stifieners, and 3 the longitudinal stifieners. Each vertical stiffener is secured to the end sills 4: and t0 the intermediate posts 5 by means of a Z-shaped-angle connection 6, preferably by through-bolts 7 which may be combined with nuts and washers in the usual manner. The upper end of the vertical stiffener is secured to the end plate 8 and the entire post 5 by a similar 2- shaped angle 6, Figs. 1 and 2. The vertical stiffener is secured to the girths 9 and intermediate vertical posts by through-bolts 10, which through-bolts also project through the metallic horizontal stiffeners. The horizontal stiffeners are secured to the girths comprising the belt-rails and to the diagonal braces 11 at the end of the car and similar diagonal braces 12 at the sides of the car, as well as to the metallic side posts 18, by throughbolts 14. These horizontal stifieners are also secured to the corner-plates 15 on the outside of the car by through-bolts 16.

The ridge-pole 17 is braced by the longitudinal stiffener 3, secured thereto by throughbolts 18 and to the end plate 8 by one or more through-bolts 19. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the ends of the longitudinal stiffener are at right angles to the body portion thereof, so as to be easily secured to the end plate 8 and to the carline 20. The ridge-pole is additionally stiffened by a filling-piece 21, which is placed between said ridge-pole and the longitudinal stifiener, although this may be omitted, if desired.

In Figs. 1 to 3 the stiffeners and Z-shaped connections are shown as comprising flat strips or bars. In Fig. 5, however, the vertical stifiener l is in the form of a channel, While the horizontal stifieners 2 are in the form of angles.

In Fig. 6 the vertical stiffener 1 is T-shaped in cross-section, and the horizontal stifieners 2 are shown as being of channel form.

In Fig. 7 the vertical stiffener 1 is provided with integral 2 connections 7.

In Fig. 8 the Z-shaped connecting-plate 7 is illustrated as having a bifurcated end 22. Attention is particularly called to the novel arrangement whereby the Z-shaped connecting-plate is employed as part of the post, as by utilizing this construction we avoid the use of such connecting-timbers as are liable to rot and are enabled to so tie in the car ends as to protect the end sills.

Having thus described the inventionpvhat is new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a wooden box-car, of a longitudinal stiffener connected to the ridge-pole of the car and secured to one of the carlines and the end of the car; substantially as described.

2. In a wooden box-car, vertical postbraces arranged adjacent the end sills and end plate and in line with the vertical posts, and Z-shaped securing-plates secured to the post-braces and end plates and to the postbraces and end sills; substantially as described.

3. The combination with a wooden box-car, of vertical post-braces, one end of each brace being adjacent one of the car-sills, and the other end of each brace being adjacent the upper portion of the car side, and Z-shaped securing-plates connected to the respective ends of said braces and to the upper sides and sills; substantially as described.

1. The combination with a box-car, of vertical metal stiffeners at the end of the box-car and on the outside thereof, and Z-shaped connecting-plates connected to the vertical metal stiffeners and to the end sills of the car on the inner sides thereof; substantially as described.

5. The combination with the end of a box car, of vertical and longitudinal metal stiffeners cooperating with said car, the horizontal stiffeners having ends which extend around the sides of the car, and the longitudinal stiffeners having terminally-arranged Z- shaped connecting members which are fastened to the inner sides of the end sill and the car-roof respectively; substantially as described.

6. The combination with awooden box-car, of vertically-arranged metallic stifieners extending from the sills to the top of the car, offset fastening devices carried by said stiffeners and secured to the sills and top of the car, inclined braces, and horizontal stiffeners connected to the vertical stiffeners and sides of the car, and a longitudinal stiffener secured to the ridge-pole; substantially as described.

7. The combination with a box-car, of vertical stifleners arranged exteriorly to the ends of said car and adjacent the vertical posts, an offset fastening device at the ends of the vertical stiffeners and extending within the car, the fastening means at one end resting on one of the sills and the fastening means at the other end secured to the upper portion of the car; substantially as described.

8. The combination with a box-car, of vertical stiffeners exterior of the carand arranged on the sides and ends, end angles on the vertical stiifeners and extending within the car, bolts for connecting the end angles to the car, and end posts resting on the lower angles; substantially as described.

9. The combination with a box-car, of vertical metallic members arranged exteriorly of the car, angle securing devices terminally carried by said vertical members and extending within the car, horizontal braces within the car and connected to the vertical braces, and a metallic ridge-pole brace substantially as described.

10. The combination with a wooden boxcar, of vertical braces exterior of the car and in line with the end posts, and Z-shaped angle-plates overlapping the end sills and connected to the braces for the end posts; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I, the said GEORGE In testimony whereof I, the said JOHN L. HENRION, hereunto afiix my signature, in MOROBBIE, hereunto aflix my signature, in

the presence of two Witnesses, this 20th day the presence of two Witnesses, this 15th day I of May, 1905. of May, 1905.

GEO. L. HENRION. JOHN MCROBBIE. Witnesses Witnesses J. C. HANCOCK, FRANK W. YOUNG,

ARTHUR OROWNOVER. TURNER STANTON. 

